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raped. You can’t be blamed for that or in any way held accountable. If anything, public sympathy will be aroused.”
    “Ordinarily, yes. But our Annie isn’t normal. She’s fetched, no question about it, an affliction brought on by a high fever in early childhood. Unfortunately, people being given to gossip as they are, there have been those who have speculated about her idiocy, hinting that it could be inherited.” He pinned Alex with a direct, intense gaze. “How many mad politicians have you voted for recently?’’
    There was nothing Alex could say to that. No one could question the judge’s sanity, but if gossips Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    painted him as having madness in his family, the voters’ faith in him might be shaken. All it would take to ruin his chances at the polls was a seed of doubt.
    “We’ve kept Annie out of sight as much as possible so folks won’t talk. If Douglas’s attack on her is made public, all our efforts to keep her out of the limelight will have gone for naught.”
    Alex nodded. “So you intend to keep this hushed up, then?”
    “I do.”
    Even though it was his brother’s salvation, Alex felt it was a misguided decision, and he was disappointed in the judge for having made it. If Douglas would attack one girl, there was nothing to say he might not victimize another. The only way to ensure he didn’t was to prosecute him to the full extent of the law.
    When Alex pointed that out, the judge replied, “Douglas Montgomery’s threat to society isn’t my problem or my responsibility. I have to think of my family and myself, of our future. Going into politics has been my lifelong dream, and I’ve worked toward that end my entire career. Why should I let your brother’s actions snuff that out? I can’t afford the scandal, I tell you, and at best, there would be a nasty one. Even if Annie were normal, which she isn’t, the gossip would spread like wildfire. In her case, the talk could be even more vicious. I can’t take that risk. I won’t. Out of sight, out of mind. That has been my motto in raising Annie, and it will continue to be.
    “In addition to the damage to my reputation, I also have to think of the consequences for her. Until now, she’s been left alone by the young men in this area. But once word of this gets out, who’s to say? Soiled goods, and all of that.”
    Alex found that line of reasoning appalling, and his feelings must have shown, for the judge’s gaze turned fiery.
    “Damn it, just you think about it, Montgomery. My daughter is a moron. All her life, she’s been a target for torment. Why do you think she skulks away to hide in the woods whenever she spies people?
    Children throw stones at her. At every opportunity, they play cruel tricks on her. Today your brother simply carried the abuse a step further. If it becomes public knowledge, another young man may figure it can’t hurt to do the same. To protect her, we’d have to keep her locked up, and if it comes to that, we may as well institutionalize her. My wife would be heartbroken if that happened.”
    Alex could think of nothing to say. Absolutely nothing except, “I’m sorry, Judge. I’m so very sorry.”
    The older man sighed again, the sound incredibly weary. “Yes, I know you are. But sorry doesn’t undo what happened today.” As if he suddenly realized how harsh that sounded, he added, “Don’t take it so personally, Alex. It’s a sad fact, but true. A man can choose his friends, but not his relatives.”
    “No.” Alex looked helplessly around the room, searching his mind for something, anything he might do to set things right. There was nothing. He had said what he had come to say. ‘“If there is anything I can do, anything at all...”
    The judge shook his head. “I wish to God there were, son. As it is, we can only pray her dimwittedness gives her quick release from the memories.”
    Recalling the way Annie had clawed